Gear selecting and changing device



' May l5, i923.

Filed sept. 2, 1919 s Sheets-sheet;

INN

'J.BLACKBURN GEAR SELECTING lAND CHANGING DEVICE 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept..2,

May. 15', 1923.-

J.BLACKBURN www GEAR SELECTING AND CHANGING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 M ff y @W'f E my Patented May 15, 1923.

JASPER BLACKBURN, OF IEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI.

GEAR SELECTING AND CHANGING DEVICE.

Application iled September 2, 1919. Serial No. 321,166.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER BLACKBURN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of WVebster Groves, county of St. Louis, and

State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGear Selecting and Changing Devices, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formin a part thereof.

y invention relates to improvements in gear selecting and changing devices, and has for its primary object a manually operated device carried by the steeringwheel and accessible to the operator for indicating the speed, corelated to a foot operated gear changing or shifting device.

Another object of my improvement is the 2o,construction of such devices that may be' connected with any form of sliding gear and reverse transmission and without changing the transmission.

The general object of my improvement is a simplified construction for selecting and indicating the speed of the automobile in which my device is most adaptably to be f used, and changing the gear by the foot of the operator to produce the selected and indicated speed, thus eliminating the gear shifting lever which is usually employed in machines and its consequent disadvantages. In the drawings, Fig. I is a longitudinal vertical section of my improvement, the transmission, part of the engine fly wheel, and clutch in section. LF ig. II is a horizontal section taken approxlmately on the line II-II of Fig. I.

Fig. yIII is a section taken on the line III- III of Fig. II, especially illustrating the means by which the gear shifting device is operated.

Fig.' IIII is a transverse sectiontaken on .the line IIII-IIII of Fig. II.

Fig. V is a top plan view of the steering wheel and indicating device.

Figs. VI to X inclusive are views of the selecting elements i'n diagrammatic formai! tion, illustrating the selected positions of the shifting pins in the positions which they assume when ready to shift the gearsof the transmission into the desired position.

if Although I have shown my improvement applied to a three speed sliding gear and re- 65 verse transmission, I may apply' it to any sliding gear transmission without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, 11 indicates the fly wheel of the engine, and 12 the clutch cone mounted on the clutch or driving shaft 13. As illustrated the clutch shaft is held in operated position by means of the coil spring 14, and is released by the clutch lever 15. The clutch lever 15 is fulcrumed on the shaft16 Vrunning transversely of the chassis and mounted in bearing 16a. Mounted on the shaft 16 is a crank arm 17 to which is pivotally secured a rod 18, whichy rod is pivotally secured to the arm 19 of the lever 20. The lever 20 is mounted on the shaft 21, and is provided with another arm 22. Secured to the arms 19 and 22 of the lever 20 are links 23 and 24, the link 23 being pivotally secured to a bar 25, and the link 24 being secured to a bar 26.

27n indicates the casing for the transmission and in which is mounted a three speed sliding gear and reverse transmission, and mounted within said casing are reciprocating bars 27 and 28, these bars being the usual bars, except slightly longer than those emp loyed in sliding gear and reverse transmis- S1011.

Mounted on the bar 28 is a fork 29 forl shifting the gears, and mounted on the bar 85 27 is a fork 3() for shifting the gears.

The transmission casing is supported in the usual manner by transverse members carried by the chassis not shown. Likewise the casing 31 of my gear shifting device is supported.

The operative part of my gear shifting device is mounted in the casing 31, and as previously pointed out, includes'the bars 27 and 28, and on the bar 28 are mounted fingers 32 and 33 for actuating the bars for second and third speed, and on the bar 27 is mounted fingers 34 andf35, the former being the reverse finger, and the latter the finlger for shifting to first speed.

otatingly and reciprocatmgly mounted in the casing 31 are drums or rotating members 36 and 37, the drum 36 being ,provided with a peripheral groove 38, and the drum -37 being provided with a peripheral groove 39. Secured to the bar 26 is a fork 40. Mounted in the groove 38, and secured to the bar 25 is a fork 41 located in they groove 39. The function of these forks is to shift the rotating members 36 and 37 when the 110 which is mounted a sprocket wheel 46a,

the crank arm 17, the rod 18, the lever 20,

and links 23 and 24.

The rotating members 36 and 37 are reciprocated on the shaft 42. One end of the shaft 42 projects through the casing 31, and has mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 43, on which is mounted a sprocket chain 44.

45 indicates a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, and, mounted in sultable bearings not shown, and on one end o an by means of which arotary movement is `imparted to the rotating members or drums 36 and 37, it being noted in this connection that said members are free to move on the shaft 42, but do not ,rotate thereon.

The forward end of'the shaft 45 is provided with a bevelled gear'46, which meshes with the bevelled gear 47. f The bevelled gear 47 is operated by means of an ooperating rod. 48, which rod is rotated by means of an arm 49, provided with a knob 50. The arm 49 is mounted on the upper end of the rod 48, and is located above the indicator 51, which is carried by the steering column 52.

lThe operating rod 48 projects entirely through the steering column 52. By means of the lever arm 49 adjacent to the steering wheel, and accessible to the` operator, a rotarymovement may be imparted` to the rotating members or drums 36 and 37 for selecting the gear to be shifted, and when the seleetlon has been made, the gears are shifted by means of the pedal 53 mounted on the lever 15,- 'the shifting of the sliding gears being effected by means of pins or projections mounted on the drumsv 36 and 37 which come in contact with the fingers mounted on the gear shifting bars 27 and 28.

The indicator 51 is provided with a dial indicating first, second and third speed, neutral and reverse, and I employ a spring held detent 54 for temporarily holding the same in thev desired set position.

The transmission as previously referred 5 to, to which I have shown m improvement and third speed attachedfjs a lthree speedsliding gear and reverse transmission, and is provided with first speed gears 55, second speed gears 56 gears 57, and a reverse 58, the transmission eing illustrated in Fi 1 in neutral position, and in Figs. II andgIII the drums 36 and 37 are set for lfirst speed. The rotating drums or members for selecting the desired speed and operated by the arm 49 are provided with radially disposed pins or projections, which'may be set by i the adjustment of the drums to'come in contact with the fingers carried by the gear shifting barsj27 and 28.

The' drum 37 is provided with a pin-59,

which may be set for first speed, and a pin 60 for neutral, and apin 61 for third speed, and the drum 36 is provided with a pin 63 for'second speed, a neutral pin 64, and a pin 65.

When the drums-havefbeen adjusted as desired by means of the arm 49 on the steering wheel for neutral, first, second or third speed by operating the pedal 53, the pin selected for the desired speed will engage with the fingers 'carried by the gear shift-ing bars and throw in the gear to produce the i desired speed.

In the illustration, (Fig. I) the transmission is in neutral position and so indicated by the 'poipter in Fig. V, and in Fig. VI the position of the pins on both drums are indicated. If it isv desired to shift to first speed, the arm 49 is lturned to position on the dial indicating first speed. This adjustment of the handle 49 will rotate the drums and`they will occupy the position shownin Figs.-II,`-III and VII. If it is desired to change to second speed the pins for shifting the gear shifting bars will bein position as illustrated in Fig. VIII, and for third speed in position as illustrated in Fig. IX. f i

f the drumsare adjusted for reverse, the finger engaging pin on drum 36 will occupy the position as shown in. Fig. X. The transmission to which my improvement is ap- Y plied is `capable of producing three speeds ahead reverse and neutral.

In Figs. II and mi 1 have illustrated a means for locking the gear shifting bars 27 and 28, and for this purpose I form or mount on the shaft 42 a cam 66, and on the inside of the casing I mount a spring pressed dog 67 provided with a locking arm 68, adapted to be seated in notches 69 and 70 formed in these bars. The rotation of the shaft 42 operates this spring pressed dog and its locking arm.

In Fig. II where the device is set for first speed the bar 28 is locked. In the operation of setting the drums 36 and 37 the rotation of the' shaft 42 and cam 66 will reflease the bar 28, and the continued rotation will cause the arm 68 to engage with notch 69 of the bar 27. The special purpose of this locking device is to lock the bar not being used in neutral position. Mounted adjacent to the bar 27 is a spring held detent 71, and adjacent the bar 28 is a'spring held detent 71a. These are for the urpose of preventing the bars from becoming displaced by the vibration of the machine, but do not prevent theoperation of the bars when desired for shiftlng the gears.

and. IIII- that the pins mounted on the drums are of different length so that some of them-ma clear therfingers mounted on the gear shi ting bars, the same for operating the said bars.

The operation of my deviceis as follows:

When the parts have been' assembled as heretofore described, they may be attached to any sliding gear transmission by substituting new, or making longer the gear shifting bars 27 and 28 to be actuated by the A pins on the drums 36 and 37.

If it is desired to change the speed from neutral the position shown in Figs. I and VI to first jspeed as sho-wn in Figs. II and III, the arm 49 Will be moved to this position shown by the dial carried by the wheel.

This movement will rotate the drums 36 `and 37, so that the pin on the'drum 37 will occupy the sition as shown in Figs. II, III and Vllothenby operating the pedal 53, the drum 37 will be carried forward by bar 25, and the gears 53 will be .placed in mesh. l

It will be observed in this connection that when the drum 37 is carried forward, the drum 36 Will move in the' opposite direction at the same time.

If it is desired to change to second speed, the arm 49 would be moved to neutral position andthe pedal 53 operated. All gears will then be in neutralposition. Then the 'arm 49 is lmoved to the second speed indication, and the pin 63 on the drum 36 will be brought in a position as illustrated in 1 Fig.

VIII, so as to act on the second speed operating finger 32, carried bythe gear shifting bar 28. This operation will place in mesh gears 56 and 57, it being noted in this connection if it is desired to set from second to third, move the indicator to third position and operate the pedal 53. In other Words to shift from first or reverse to second or third, I first set the indicator to indicate aneutrol position, and then by operating the pedal 53, the gears are set in neutral position, and then by moving the arm 49 to either ,second or third position, the drums will be so adjusted as to give the second or third speed.

complete turn of the arm the In this connection it will be observed that the bar 27 is a bar for'shifting the gears to reverse and first speed, and the bar 28 is for shifting the' gears tosecond and third speed.

. It will further be observed that the, rotat-v ing drum or .member 37 has a pin to set the gears for neutral, one for first speed, and onel for third speed, and therotating drum 36 has a pin to set the gears for neutral, second speed and reverse, that the crank arm 49 is so related to these drums that by one `irums will make one complete rotation` and some will engage clutch cone will simultaneously operate the gear shiftin device, as both are mounted on the same s aft, that -is tosay when the clutch cone is released from the power, the gears may or may not simultaneously shift, depending on the position of the drums carrying the pins for operating the gear shifting ars, and vfurthermore that any predetermined position of the gears either for neutral, first, second or third speed or reverse is determined and controlled by the, arm 49 carried by the steering wheel and readily accessible to the operator.

It will further be observed that the p-ins are so positioned onV the drums 36 and 37 that the clutch can be slightly disengaged from the fly wheel without the pins contactinO the gear shifting fingers.

lVhile I have shown the gear shifting drums 36-and 37 for moving toward each other, they can bey just as effectively arranged by difi'erent location of the pins to work from each other.

Havin fully described my invention, what I c aim is:

. 1. A gear selecting and changing device comprislng in combination with gear transmission/provided with gear shifting bars and forks, a pair of spaced apart reciprocating and rotating members, pins carried by said members, lingers mounted on the gear shifting bars', means for adjusting said rotating and reciprocating mem- .comprising in combmation with a sliding gear transmission provided with gea-r shifting bars and forks, a pair of spaced apart reciprocating and rotating members, pins carried by said members, fingers mounted on the gear shifting bars, means for adjusting said rotating and reciprocating members from the steering wheel so that certain of 'said projections may move inthe path of and actuate certain of the fingers, and the bar on which the lingers are mounted, a

4clutch band a lever connection between the clutch and said rotating and reciprocating a sliding members whereby upon the movement of the clutch the said rotating and reciprocating members may be simultaneously moved.

3. ln a gear selecting and changing device, a clutch lever, a pair of spaced apart rotating and reciprocating members, gear shifting bars, fingers mounted on said bars, selecting means carried by the rotating member for actuating said' bars, a connection between the rotating members and clutch lever and means carried adjacent the steeringvvheel of the machine for adjusting the rotating members, a pedal and a lever connection between the pedal and rotating members for reciprocating said rotating members simultaneously in the opposite directions, and vmeans for preventing the accidental movement of the gear shifting bars.

4. A gear selecting and changing device comprising in combination with a sliding gear .transmission and gear shifting means, a pair of rotating and sliding elements provided with selective means for operating the gear shifting device, .means carried adjacent the steering wheel Jfor actuating the selective means, and a pedal lever for operating said selective means when the pedal is pressed forward.

.5. A gear selecting and Achanging device comprising a sliding gear transmission, a pair of gear shifting bars extending beyond the transmission, fingers secured on said gear shifting bars, a rotating and reciprocating member provided with pins for engaging said fingers to shift the bars, a crank arm carried within the periphery of the steering wheela connection between said crank arm and said rotating and reciprocating member for selecting the desired ingersfor shifting said gears.

' 6. A gear selecting and changing device provided with a sliding gear transmission,

gear shifting bars provided with forks said bars extending beyond the transmission, vfingers carried` by said extension of the gear .shifting bars` rotating and reciprocating drums providedl with pins for engaging said fingers for operating said bars, means lolcated adjacent the wheel tor eiiecting the desired selection of the gears, a pedal, and a lever connection to said pedal for reciprocating said drums when the pedal is pressed forward.

7, lin a gear changing device, a sliding gear transmission, gear shifting bars extending beyond the transmission, a pair of drums provided with pins for shifting said bars, aI

pedal and a lever connection between said L pedal and said drums for moving them both erate the gearshifting bars. 8. ln a vdevice of' the class. described, a pedal,a sliding gear tritt/ard each other simultaneously whenthe pedal is pushed forward and thereby optransmiss'ion provide clutch and its operatin h wit gear shlfting bars,

ritmici ed for actuating said bars, a gear selecting ilevice mounted adjacent the wheel and 1ncludinfg`an indicator for showing the -selected gear, and means actuated by the forward movement of the clutch pedal for operating the drums thereby operating the gear shifting bars.

9. ln a gear selecting and changing device for motor vehicles, a clutch, a sliding gear transmission .provided with a casing and with gear shifting bars extending through the casing and beyond the transmision, lingers mounted on said gear shifting bars for actuating the same, a rotating and reciprocating member provided with pins located adjacent to the ngers for engagingfthe ngers to operate said bars, a manually controlled means located adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle Afor positioning any of the pins located on said rotating and reciprocating member so as to engage either ot the ngers on said bars, a clutch pedaland a rod and lever connection between said pedal and rotating and reciprocatin member for changing the position of sai rotating and reciprocating member when the clutch is thrown out of engagement.

l0. 'lin a device of the class described for use on motor vehicles, a slidin gear transmission provided with gear shifting bars, a steering column, a steering wheel mounted on said column, a dial located within said steering wheel rim and marked to denote iirst, second and third-speed, reverse and neutral, a shaft extending through the steering column and dial, an arm provided with a pointer and cle-tent mounted. on said shaft, rotating andreciprocating members located adjacent to the gear shifting bars and-provided with pins projecting therefrom for operating said bars, and means operated by the toot of the operator for shifting either of said bars to produce the position of the gears as indicated on the dial.

l1. A device of the class described comprising a sliding gear transmission provided with gear shifting bars, rotating and reciprocating members located adjacent said bars, pins carried by said rotating and reciprocating members for operating said bars, a manually controlled means to adjust said rotating and reciprocating member for operating either one of said bars, and a lever mechanism for moving said rotating and reciprocating members to and from each other simultaneously.

12. A device of `the class described comprising a sliding gear transmission provided with gear shifting bars, a rotating and reciprocating member located adjacent said bars, each of said bars being providedbvith a notch, a spring pressed dog located adjacent said bars, a selective connection between said In testimony whereof, I have signed my bar and rotatlng and reclprocatlng member name to this specification, in presence of two 10 for operating sald bars, a cam mounted on subscribing Witnesses. sald member for locking the bar not 1n use w Y Y r in neutral position, a manually controlled JASPER BLA( hBI Rb" means for adjusting said rotating and reciprocating member for operating either one of said bars. e

Witnesses:

JEAN GOLDBERG, EDWARD E.- LONGAN. 

